The care of the aging population is one of the central social policy challenges of the future. Ethical questions in care, the historical development of nursing professions, the theoretical analysis of the nursing labor market, and recommendations for good care in the welfare state are topics of this extensive study. The supply and demand for nursing staff to date, their projections, and regional differences in care needs are presented comprehensively. One focus is on the qualification mix in nursing, which is to be improved through generalized training and foundational academic education in the current Nursing Professions Act. The discussion of further aspects, such as quality assurance or remuneration, makes this work a compendium of social science nursing research that also provides guidance for the diverse societal challenges.